administrating and operating the unit are in keeping withplans and polices of the Navy Department and of fleetand type commanders.Establishing a Units Directives SystemFour steps are necessary to establish a unitsdirectives system so that it will comply with theDirectives Issuance System:1.2.3.4.A unit instruction is published that prescribeswhat directives are to be issued, responibilitiesof originators, functions of directives controlpoints, instructions for departmental anddivisional use of the system, and standards forreproduction.A second unit instruction is published issuingdistribution lists.Directives binders and instructions for their useand maintenance are prepared for distribution.Unit members are educated in the proper use ofthe system. This is probably the most difficultstep, but it is essential to ensure the system willfunction effectively.Integrating Directives From Higher AuthorityMany policies and procedures affectingadministration and operation of a unit are issued asinstructions by the CNO, the various bureaus andsystems commands, and fleet and type commanders.Usually they apply to the overall administration oroperation of the unit. The commanding officer may haveto interpret or amplify these instructions before they canbe used by the unit. The commanding officer then mustprovide for their issuance and ensure they are availablefor ready reference by personnel.When a command receives enough copies of anoutside directive, it should route a copy to eachdepartment for filing in the departmental currentdirectives binder. If only a few copies are received, onecopy, after it has been routed, should be filed in thedepartment primarily concerned with its subject matter.One copy of each directive received is filed in thedirectives control point.Integrating Publications From ExternalCommandsMany manuals and publications issued by higherauthority contain material concerning personneladministration, tactical information, communications,and equipment operation. Such information should beissued throughout the unit.Directives ControlThe Directives Issuance Systemrequires units toestablish directives control points to control the issuanceof directives. In small units where the number ofdirectives issued is limited, one directives control pointcan keep the directives system in order. However, inlarge units, the handling of all directives in, for example,the captains office, may place too great a burden on thatoffice. In such cases, these large units often establishseparate directives control points for each department inaddition to the units directives control points.The captains office is normally designated as thecontrol point for all directives signed by thecommanding officer or the executive officer. Adepartment heads administrative assistant or senioryeoman usually performs the functions of the directivescontrol point for instructions and notices issued orreceived within the department. Division directivesshould also be cleared through this point to ensurestandardization within the department. The functions ofthis control point are independent of those of the unitscontrol point, but they are performed parallel with thefunctions of the department.The systems operations within the organization areevaluated on a continuing basis at the directives controlpoint. Directives are analyzed and recommendations aremade for improvements when appropriate. Besides thisgeneral function, the following specific tasks areperformed at the directives control point: Each directive is reviewed for compliance withdirectives standards before it is signed. Directives arechecked for proper signature, clearances, format,identification, security requirements, editorialstandards, subject numbers, and references. Thecurrency, need, completeness, and possible overlap ofor conflict with other directives are also determined.Consecutive numbers are assigned to new instructionsafter signature, and dating is ensured before finalissuance. The proposed distribution of each directive isreviewed to find out if it is appropriate and accurate.That avoids overdistribution and ensures adequatestocking of directives to ensure efficient initial andreserve stocks. Master up-to-date sets of incoming and outgoingdirectives (or locator cross-reference sheets when8-3